Fish bowls.....

[So cute krissy]

Fish bowls.....

Thanks for your response, Seforum.xxxgnant and Jen.Happy New Year to all!!!!

 

[Beth]

I would like to share my fishbowl experience with you.  If it wasn't for my fishbowls when I graduated school, I probably wouldn't have the business I do today.  While finishing my intership at a Chiropractors office, I went to every salon in the area, introduced myself and offered the owners a free massage.  I then asked if I could put the fishbowls in their salon and three salons agreed to it.  It turned out to be a gold mine for me.  What I did was provided the salon everything they needed and asked them to encourage their clients to fill out an entry form.  They loved my massage and had no problem talking me up.  I just printed up signs that read "Enter to Win"  30 min. massage.  Then what I did, was on a weekly basis, went to each salon and pulled out as many entries as I could hold and call everyone of them to schedule their free half hour.  80% of the time they wanted to upgrade to a full hour and then you get the people that want their half hour and are not really interested in massage on a regular basis.  But those that upgraded are clients that after 4 years I still have. I never gave away a full hour massage and I would suggest that you do not.  The most important thing is to get them in the door and get your hands on them.  Never do drawing for a full hour.  Because  you want to give them a sample of what you can do.  Besides, most  will want to upgrade, then you make money, it cost you nothing to advertise and the clients wins too, because you gave them a great massage at a good discount.  Clients that otherwise may have never sought you out.  Everybody wins in this situation.  Also, I do not use fishbowls like I used to, because my area has become flooded with new therapists and it has become harder to network with the right people who do not have or offer massage therapy in their place of business.  Make sure you put your fishbowl in a business that would best represent your demographics.  In other words, you don't want to put your fishbowl up in a small local business in a low income neighborhood.  Because then all you will be doing is free massages.  I do however, use the fishbowls when I do health fairs and community events.  The important thing is when you do the fishbowls you need to call almost all the entries.  It fills up your schedule and definately brings in new clients.  Yes, you will be giving some of your work away, but the benefits out weigh that.  Also, I wanted to share something I did for the first time this Christmas.  It has been awhile since I really marketed myself.  So this year I talked to a couple of business owners, real estate brokers etc.... and asked them if they would consider giving away 30 min. gift certificates to clients or other business people for Christmas.  They understood who to give them to.   Like people that would really appreciate them and also people they thought they could afford this kind of service.  Anyway, I ended up givng away almost $3,000 worth of Gift certificates for free to these business people.  The response so far has been overwhelming.  I have new people calling me everyday to book their appointment and most are upgrading.  Thank you,Sandy O.

 

[Danielle A]

Fish bowls.....

Thanks for your input Sandy, I feel much more encouraged about doing this than I did in the past. I have been procrastinating about doing this, but now it may be better than I had thought! Thanks again!!!!

 

[abbylane]

Sandy O,Thanks for the input.  I really like your suggestions.  Especially the part of giving away 30 min. instead of the whole hour.  I've noticed that many times people have come in to my shop with 30 gift certificates and most of the time they will upgrade to 1 hour.I liked the idea of giving away 30 min. to the office folks.  That's really a great marketing tool.  I will give it some thought and try to put it in place. A question for you all, do you put an expiration date of the fish bowl giveaways and do you put one of the office 30 min. gift certificates that you did?Thanks!Susie